Personally, I'm very happy with Duran Duran's _Decade_, even if it is missing "Come Undone". Also, _The Best Of Blondie_ is great.
(I don't have _The Best of Blur_, but "Music Is My Radar" could only make it better. I almost bought the damn thing solely for that song.)
― Dan Perry, Friday, 2 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Tom, Friday, 2 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
Anyhow, I nearly exclusively deal in greatest hits, sometimes, because it's just a lot easier than buying a pile of crap albums to hear like 2 songs. ABBA Gold, obviously, you need; St. Etienne's Too Young To Die is fantastic; Bruce Springsteen's Greatest Hits is really the only album by him you NEED (though I'd recommend others), despite its willfull and unfortunate leaving out of Rosalita; New Order's best of is really the only New Order album I listen to; same goes for Blondie's The Platinum Collection. I'd also give marks to Blur's best of, even though half of it is crap, because it allows me to rid myself of the rest of their albums finally. Oh, and Lenny Kravitz's greatest hits is good because Lenny is definitely a singles artist, so if you just skip over American Woman and Fly Away you've got a good time on your hands. There are 10,000 Beatles' best ofs, so you should get one of those for historical sake really, and if you get the right one you really don't need more than that.
― Ally, Friday, 2 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Omar, Friday, 2 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Vaudeville, Friday, 2 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
The Smiths' "Singles" wasn't bad, especially after Best Of 1 and 2, which was bloody awful. Not to mention replacing Morrissey's cover design outside of North America. Happily "Singles" had his design, a nice picture of Diana Dors and with "Louder Than Bombs" was a better "Best Of" than the offical one was.
― Phil Paterson, Friday, 2 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Josh, Friday, 2 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
Madonna's Immacualte Collection, plus Frozen and Beautiful Stranger, two bona fide pop classics if you ask me.
...Finally, Abba Gold. Most of these are classics, but you need 'The Visitors' on there as well. The way it builds up into the chorus is just amazingly good.
I'd say a Beatles compilation, but basically, none of the many do them justice, it's just not possible to compile one that would please everyone. (And I genuinely believe that, whatever people may say, most people like the Beatles at least a little)
Just adding to the consensus here...
Bill
― Bill, Friday, 2 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Sterling Clover, Friday, 2 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― simon, Sunday, 4 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Dr. C, Sunday, 4 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
Josh, if the Doors you speak of is the 2-CD thing, quit while you're ahead. That's all the Doors you need. Sad but true story: As a teenager, I loved the Doors like every good American. I had that 2-CD Best Of. I liked it so much I thought I'd love the whole Doors catalog. So I sold the Best-of and went about acquiring the 6 studio albums. I bought all those, got very sick of the Doors, and in my early 20s sold all six. Now I have no Doors at all. Hence the wisdom of quitting while you're ahead.
― Mark Richardson, Sunday, 4 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
And if we *have* to go on to the Beatles, then go for the Red and Blue Albums, which between them contain all 27 tracks which ended up on that abomination known as "One", but which also contain a good few tracks that don't get so many daytime plays on Capital Gold :). (well, "I Am The Walrus", which is the one that really matters, though the Blue Album chooses appallingly from Abbey Road). The only Beatles repackagings worth even considering owning.
― Robin Carmody, Monday, 5 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Tuesday, 10 June 2003 19:46 (twenty years ago) link
― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 21:30 (twenty years ago) link
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00028HBK2.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
1. Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...) - Lou Bega 2. Macarena - Los Del Rios 3. Chan Chan - Buena Vista Social Club 4. Frenesi - Linda Ronstadt 5. Theme from "Harry's Game" - Clannad 6. Over the Rainbow 7. Barcelona Nights - Ottmar Liebert 8. Valse d'Amelie - Yann Tiersen 9. Bomboleo - Gipsy Kings 10. Pata Pata - Miriam Makeba 11. Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte 12. Swingin' the Mambo - Tito Puente 13. Soul Bossa Nova - Quincy Jones & His Orchestra 14. Pass the Dutchie - Musical Youth 15. Hot! Hot! Hot! - Arrow 16. Grazing in the Grass - Hugh Masekela 17. Mais Que Nada - Sergio Mendes 18. Oye Como Va - Santana
― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 15 May 2006 03:04 (eighteen years ago) link
― Charlie Howard, Saturday, 14 April 2007 18:09 (seventeen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison, Saturday, 14 April 2007 18:19 (seventeen years ago) link
― David Bachyrycz, Saturday, 14 April 2007 19:30 (seventeen years ago) link
― lex pretend, Saturday, 14 April 2007 19:39 (seventeen years ago) link
― NYCNative, Saturday, 14 April 2007 19:41 (seventeen years ago) link
― Mr. Odd, Saturday, 14 April 2007 20:00 (seventeen years ago) link
― kornrulez6969, Saturday, 14 April 2007 22:43 (seventeen years ago) link
― Mr. Odd, Sunday, 15 April 2007 07:24 (seventeen years ago) link
― henry s, Sunday, 15 April 2007 20:23 (seventeen years ago) link
Steely Dan's Greatest Hits may not delete the need to buy the actual albums but is probably the greatest collection of songs in existence.
Close second, Merle Haggard's "Songs I'll Always Sing".
― mulla atari, Monday, 18 June 2007 03:28 (sixteen years ago) link
i'm listening to the cult's 'pure cult' thingie. pretty damn good. needs 'aphrodisiac jacket' and a few more, but i guess they weren't singles...
― Charlie Howard, Monday, 18 June 2007 09:05 (sixteen years ago) link
Thread should have been closed after Dr C's choice of the Buzzcocks 'Singles Going Steady' way up there somewhere. As far as GH go, it doesn't get better than this.
― Guilty_Boksen, Monday, 18 June 2007 12:31 (sixteen years ago) link
"Once Upon A Time", Siouxsie and the Banshees, is great.
― koogs, Monday, 18 June 2007 12:41 (sixteen years ago) link
Yeah, Buzzcocks for me too. Chief competition would be Sly & the Family Stone and CCR. (Greatest non-existent GH = Bob Seger's)
― Myonga Vön Bontee, Monday, 18 June 2007 18:04 (sixteen years ago) link
Not The Beatles, simply because any "Greatest Hits" by The Beatles is automatically bound to be devoid of most of the great stuff they did.
Out of the ones not mentioned, Madness had a very strong run of singles.
― Geir Hongro, Monday, 18 June 2007 23:17 (sixteen years ago) link
And then there's Bob Marley's "Legend" too. Has been voted best "best of" a lot of times although personally I really don't think it worked out until all those extra tracks were added for the rather recent special edition.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d7/50000fall.jpg
maybe not the greatest ever but a pretty cool collection
― gman, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 05:03 (sixteen years ago) link
http://umusicimages.ca/doublediscgold/parliament.jpg is awesome
― abanana, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 05:11 (sixteen years ago) link
http://kpuk.net/big_img/608.jpg
― Siegbran, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 07:19 (sixteen years ago) link
Is there really no AC/DC greatest hits/best of? AMG doesn't list one, nor does Amazon. How odd.
― Colonel Poo, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 11:37 (sixteen years ago) link
SuperFurryAnimalsOKThkxBye.
― Mark G, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 11:40 (sixteen years ago) link
Tom Petty's first Greatest Hits comp (the 1993 where "Mary Jane's Last Dance" was a new track) is wall-to-wall awesome, although I lost it years ago and may have to upgrade to the 2 disc that has "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" and some more recent stuff on it. Queen's Greatest Hits is another great one I grew up with, although now I feel motivated to hear the whole albums.
It's kind of a delicate matter, figuring out whether to buy a GH or get the actual albums, because I know once I get a best-of it'll discourage me from getting the albums. So I'm constantly weighing like OK, I can live with just an Elton John best-of, but I need to get Thin Lizzy's individual albums.
― Alex in Baltimore, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 13:01 (sixteen years ago) link
Pet Shop Boys' Discography, people!
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 13:13 (sixteen years ago) link
Sparks "Profile." Excellent chronological overview of the many stylistic changes (on as many record labels) of one of my favorite bands evah.
― Dan Peterson, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 15:27 (sixteen years ago) link
you don't need any other records by them now it's come out, so I'd say the Best Of Blur
AS RONG AS RONG CAN BE
The answer to this thread is Steve Harley, IMO.
― Just got offed, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 15:32 (sixteen years ago) link
Definitely not the only album to own, but: John Lennon's <i>Shaved Fish</i>. All the big stuff, in the perfect order, and the most appropriate context for the absolutely-perfect "#9 Dream" (definitely not <i>Walls and Bridges</i>).
― Telephone thing, Friday, 2 November 2007 06:59 (sixteen years ago) link
And one day I will remember that ILX uses BBcode. Sigh.
― Telephone thing, Friday, 2 November 2007 07:00 (sixteen years ago) link
Sweet would fit in here. Just make sure you get a "Greatest Hits" that has "Love Is Like Oxygen" on it, not all of them do.
― Geir Hongro, Friday, 2 November 2007 11:34 (sixteen years ago) link
Sadly it is true. There is no AC/DC greatest hits.
― steampig67, Friday, 2 November 2007 13:14 (sixteen years ago) link
Although why you would need an AC/DC greatest hits is beyond me. After all, you should own them all already. At least thru 1990 anyway.
― steampig67, Friday, 2 November 2007 13:17 (sixteen years ago) link
Sly & the Family Stone's Greatest Hits will probably always be my favorite.
― JN$OT, Friday, 2 November 2007 13:20 (sixteen years ago) link
AC/DC's "Greatest Hits" was released in 1980 and is called "Back In Black".
― Geir Hongro, Friday, 2 November 2007 13:39 (sixteen years ago) link
No Bon, no cred.
― C. Grisso/McCain, Friday, 2 November 2007 14:07 (sixteen years ago) link
cash money records platinum hits vol 1oyasumi hologram 1perfume complete best
― (⊙_⊙?) (original bgm), Tuesday, 29 June 2021 04:44 (two years ago) link
No one's mentioned De La Soul's Timeless yet.
The U.S. version (or maybe just the most common version worldwide) is a great singles compilation, but that's another one that got a different track list elsewhere, this time in Australasia. The U.S. version is better, though De La Soul Is Dead had some great tracks weren't released as singles so a singles collection can't do it justice.
The Best Best of Fela Kuti is kinda weak because it cuts the songs down, frequently omitting the long instrumental sections that kicked them off.
Unfortunately, those tracks are so long that a concise best-of or "hits" collection isn't possible without big edits. Similar to James Browne's 20 All-Time Greatest Hits!! (all single edits which cut out a lot, if not nearly as much), I think The Best Best of Fela Kuti is a nice sampler and a good intro for those completely new to his musical world. But a box set compilation would be great too for those who prefer those tracks uncut.
I have the Every Breath You Take: The Classics comp, and I do like it better than any of their albums, but I'd slot at least a few more tracks on it. Weird that it's missing "So Lonely" and "Canary in a Coalmine", two songs I've heard on the radio
Yeah, Greatest Hits had "So Lonely," though it didn't have "Canary in a Coalmine." "When the World...." and "Driven to Tears" are also great and the former got a ton of radio play - I put those on my homemade comp. Zenyatta Mondatta is possibly the only Police LP that I might like from start-to-finish.
Turns out "Singles Going Steady" is a comp. I wasn't sure until just now.
Possibly the greatest album ever made from a basic singles compilation. I didn't realize it when I first got it because it sounded so cohesive, but when I got familiar with the band, I discovered that they actually sequenced the 45 A-sides on the LP's A-side, and the 45 B-sides on the LP's B-side. You could say that's unimaginatively logical and straightforward, but it plays so well, some things just work themselves out.
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 29 June 2021 18:23 (two years ago) link
*James BROWN
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 29 June 2021 18:24 (two years ago) link
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/4TcAAOSw4eRgfe1M/s-l500.jpg
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Tuesday, 29 June 2021 18:24 (two years ago) link
It's def "Singles Going Steady"
But I think my second fave is Motorhead "No Remorse"
― bruce spr!ngisH3r3 on broadway (Whiney G. Weingarten), Tuesday, 29 June 2021 18:57 (two years ago) link
No Remorse is a great compilation because Lemmy got word that the label was gonna put one out, so he took the project over and sequenced it himself, plus added four tracks by the then-new lineup of the band to prove that they weren't has-beens.
Re James Brown, a standard "greatest hits" is never gonna do it — the compilations from the late '90s centered on short time periods are fantastic: Funk Power 1970: A Brand New Thang, Make It Funky: The Big Payback 1971-75, and Dead on the Heavy Funk: 1975-83.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Tuesday, 29 June 2021 19:46 (two years ago) link
Emperor did an excellent best of. I prefer it to listening to their albums
― Urbandn hope all ye who enter here (dog latin), Tuesday, 29 June 2021 19:51 (two years ago) link
Did they pull a ZZ Top and overdub the drums?
― but also fuck you (unperson), Tuesday, 29 June 2021 19:55 (two years ago) link
This Cat Stevens CD is surprisingly good, maybe the best out there:https://www.discogs.com/release/594021-Cat-Stevens-Remember-The-Ultimate-Collection
Look like his own indie release, but it reuses what may be the masters from the original Island CD releases, supposedly the best sounding digital masterings of his music. The type of compilation I like from an artist that doesn't figure among my favorites - scoops up all the best stuff and puts them together in a way that leaves the impression that there's more to explore. Sometimes I'll be disappointed or sometimes I'll find I've underestimated them, but the point is it makes me give the rest of their catalog another chance. Even if a revisit proves disappointing, at least the hits CD earns them a secure place on my shelves.
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 4 January 2022 19:27 (two years ago) link
Or rather not an indie release, Discogs lists Island and I just noticed their logo on some parts, though not very conspicuous
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 4 January 2022 19:28 (two years ago) link
Ghastly album art, though.
― Les hommes de bonbons (cryptosicko), Tuesday, 4 January 2022 19:31 (two years ago) link
oh yeah. that's why i thought it was a self-release
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 4 January 2022 19:33 (two years ago) link
I've never heard that particular compilation, but I really doubt that mixing up his 60s pop songs with the 70s folk songs would work (instead of putting them in chronological order).
― Halfway there but for you, Tuesday, 4 January 2022 19:37 (two years ago) link
omg - that cover art is all-time
― i woke up alarmed (morrisp), Tuesday, 4 January 2022 19:38 (two years ago) link
Yeah, chronological might be better. It generally is for compilations. I'm not a fan though, so mixing it up still works for me - I think the changes keep me on my toes.
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 4 January 2022 19:47 (two years ago) link
The cover is awful, but I'll say it's kind of charming to me. Like I never think of Cat Stevens unless he pops up in a good movie like Rushmore. But the title feels more like "Remember Cat Stevens?" to me, like "whatever happened to him?" and the picture tells you everything there is, even in its low-budget look - the guy's on a different path and a long, loooong way from the music business.
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 4 January 2022 19:49 (two years ago) link
Really wish ABBA Gold had replaced "Thank You for the Music" with "Lay All Your Love on Me." Would've made that disc perfect for me (and all the ABBA I'd ever need).
After going through Rufus's catalog, I have a much greater appreciation for The Very Best of Rufus featuring Chaka Khan - their albums aren't bad, they really stand out as a singles band, and that compilation (originally released in 1982) scoops up all the hits. On paper it sounds utilitarian, but it really is their best stuff and it's sequenced into THE great Rufus album IMHO. I don't even fault them for missing out on their last hit, "Ain't Nobody" from 1983 - the sound is so different, it would have disrupted the cohesiveness of the whole LP. I just wish one of the audiophile labels would remaster it - the current CD was done in the '90s, and it sounds too bright to me. (First pressing even had an egregious error on "Once You Get Started," where they overlooked a bad splice that messed up the master tape. Some copies are still out there even though MCA had a replacement program for it.) Also the packaging really sucks, like they were told to whip up something on a $5 dollar budget:
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/516xyaGasyL._SX300_SY300_QL70_ML2_.jpg
If could they just fix the presentation, it would go over as an essential addition to any music library.
― birdistheword, Thursday, 14 March 2024 23:46 (two months ago) link
^^ bought this about 10 years ago, and, yeah, it needs "Ain't Nobody" and a better sleeve.
― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 14 March 2024 23:50 (two months ago) link
Cover Connection:
https://i.discogs.com/Xn7Wd8OmNryNDcgU_i52OAl7vn0Vw8Loc1vdDW_0Ros/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTEyNDA0/Mjc5LTE1MzQ2MDQ4/MDEtNjMzMy5qcGVn.jpeg
Also early '80s -- was there a darts craze or something?
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 14 March 2024 23:55 (two months ago) link
Visually punning on the theme of 'Hits'?
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 14 March 2024 23:57 (two months ago) link
The Eagles one brings to mind skee ball even though the holes don't line up in a straight line.
I wonder how many "hits" collections used a pun for their cover art? Joni's was the first one I ever noticed - it's kind of a dopey joke but I always find it amusing:
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51pCD45UWRL._SX300_SY300_QL70_ML2_.jpg
Extending the idea to her "misses" helped make an impression:
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41t3MmoCCPL._SX300_SY300_QL70_ML2_.jpg
Public Enemy's take on the same idea is especially memorable:
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51zV4MbTTCL._SX300_SY300_QL70_ML2_.jpg
― birdistheword, Friday, 15 March 2024 00:43 (two months ago) link
there's an Australian band called Mondo Rock who I assume have zero profile outside Australia - I think of them as late 1960's rock vets trying to get a bite of the new wave cherry but unable to totally overcome their yacht rock leanings - with enjoyably FM-friendly results
ANYWAY while they were still a going concern they released a greatest hits record which is absolutely the only Mondo Rock record you might need (if you needed one at all, I absolutely do)
BUT the CLEVER BIT is that they included a new non-album single - 'THE MOMENT' and the hits LP is called 'UP TO THE MOMENT' - do you SEE?
― Kraal Disorientation Chamber (emsworth), Friday, 15 March 2024 00:51 (two months ago) link
I gave a Pop Con talk on the very subject.
― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 15 March 2024 01:03 (two months ago) link
Hah, that's awesome! Thanks Alfred!
xp LOL, that's like a Norm MacDonald joke.
― birdistheword, Friday, 15 March 2024 01:04 (two months ago) link
Devo also, with the Hits and Misses thing:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devo%27s_Greatest_Hits#/media/File:Devo_Greatest_Hits.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devo%27s_Greatest_Misses#/media/File:Devo_Greatest_Misses.jpg
― peace, man, Friday, 15 March 2024 10:43 (two months ago) link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devo%27s_Greatest_Hits#/media/File:Devo_Greatest_Hits.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devo%27s_Greatest_Misses#/media/File:Devo_Greatest_Misses.jpg
― peace, man, Friday, 15 March 2024 10:44 (two months ago) link
Huh. Not sure why the image links aren't working, but these ones:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devo%27s_Greatest_Hits
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devo%27s_Greatest_Misses
― peace, man, Friday, 15 March 2024 10:45 (two months ago) link
The Shadows, 'More Hits!'https://i.discogs.com/1LPG8oorqZ3deXqfXoc1D0dhiZ4NOzUt5EC8ZUhqGnY/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:598/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE3NzAw/NTAtMTQ4NTkwMDg3/OC0yNDcyLnBuZw.jpeg
― you gotta roll with the pączki to get to what's real (snoball), Friday, 15 March 2024 11:32 (two months ago) link
I used to have a Gilberto Gil compilation that was shoddily packaged but the songs were perfect. It was such a good introduction to his range of music: forro, samba, tropicalia, psych, melancholy ballads, etc.
― giraffe, Friday, 15 March 2024 11:42 (two months ago) link
After reading Alfred's Pop Con talk, I looked up Garth Brooks's best of and was stunned that it sold it's 10 million copies in a little over a year before he yanked it off the market. (That was in the U.S. alone, but it did equally phenomenal business in Canada as well.) I've seen him on SNL more times than I've played his records, but I keep forgetting how humongous the guy was in the '90s.
Also came across his previous "hits" CD which was apparently a McDonald's charity release. Pretty skimpy selection, but a much better album cover that visually translates the concept, tearing apart chunks of his other album covers to Frankenstein together a photo of him. (Helps that his album covers usually just show in the same exact post over and over again in different backgrounds and clothing.)
― birdistheword, Friday, 15 March 2024 17:34 (two months ago) link
Garth Brooks' American sales are staggering, and I was there at the time.
(The Hits is terrific btw).
― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 15 March 2024 17:36 (two months ago) link
Oh man, I remember those McDonald's CDs, some thin greatest hits sets plus a teaser for the then-upcoming Roxette album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am4_Dcq1c6w
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 15 March 2024 17:44 (two months ago) link
that's up there with the Rock Art cups Taco Bell offered for a weird pairing of artists (Scorpions and Bell Biv Devoe)
― CEO Greedwagon (Neanderthal), Friday, 15 March 2024 17:46 (two months ago) link
Ok, one of the Taco Bell Biv Devoe cups is on ebay for $10 and I must not buy it, because the clutter in my house needs to be addressed before I buy any more tacky bullshit. But how much do I want that? A cup that asserts that its music is "mentally hip-hop smoothed out on the R&B tip with a pop feel appeal to it"?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/195705579028?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=pRzYl4DmThu&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
― peace, man, Friday, 15 March 2024 19:13 (two months ago) link
LOL. I'm guessing they didn't bother reaching out to Tom Waits and Iggy Pop for their Rock Art cup.
― birdistheword, Friday, 15 March 2024 19:14 (two months ago) link
poll please
― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Friday, 15 March 2024 19:26 (two months ago) link
collect all five free Rock Art Cups yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
― CEO Greedwagon (Neanderthal), Friday, 15 March 2024 19:32 (two months ago) link